Grace Loman
“
Online and blended classes allow students to experience a new way of learning without completely diving into something unknown.
”
– Grace Loman
Blended and online courses are interesting. Today technology is growing at an incredible rate, it can even be hard to keep up with new advancements. Having the opportunity to take classes online is changing the way students learn. For some students, keeping attention focused in a traditional classroom can be more difficult than it is for others. Online classes provide these students with an alternative path that they may find easier.
Online and blended classes allow students to experience a new way of learning without completely diving into something unknown. Even without being in a blended course, many students can still find help from teachers while taking an online class; this permits them to try online classes without feeling helpless if they end up being too difficult. Also, today there are several universities that boast having only online courses (students can do their schooling from home). When taking an online course, it can assist students in choosing their future education plans — if they like learning online, they may choose to attend a university that offers those.
Blended courses can be easier than online courses because being in a mixed classroom gives students a better chance of having face-to-face help during their class. Online courses are definitely a new route of learning for most students. This year, at my high school, there was an unexpected shortage of teachers at the beginning of the year; this caused several students to have to take online courses for the classes that were no longer being taught. For some it was more difficult, but luckily they were all placed in blended classrooms which gave them the extra help they would need to pass the course.
I do enjoy online courses because they give me a chance to earn college credits that aren’t offered at my school. However, I do prefer a traditional classroom. I enjoy social environments and I believe that one of the best ways for students to learn is with classroom discussions. Online courses usually have discussion boards, but it is different from a face-to-face discussion in a classroom. Traditional classrooms allow students to express their opinions and teach other students new information through discussions. I think students learn better in traditional classrooms for the most part.